I
Opinion
Common Sense, key to protest
By Dave Holmes
Copy Editor
I’m a socially conscious individual. Or, at
least, I like to think so.
I feel fairly well-informed as to what’s go
ing on in the world and, like all good social
ly conscious individuals, I try to put some
action behind my beliefs. Take South
Africa, for instance. I mean, personally, I
would NEVER perform at Sun City. But
aren’t some of today’s “socially conscious”
activities hanging on the fringe of accep
tability? Some can even be seen in the abyss
of irrational thought and self-defeat.
About two weeks ago a group of students
at a local college (it’s initials are R-E-E-D)
decided they had had their fill of their col
lege’s “support” of apartheid. (Support, to
them, apparently means any other position
than developing plans to overthrow South
African President Botha’s administration.)
Anyway, they probably spent a good two
or three solid minutes in preparation and
then stormed the college president’s office,
sat down, and protested the treatment of
blacks in South Africa.
And what was my reaction to this? I felt,
and still feel, that that particular course of
action was pointless. It accomplished
nothing except bring an already well-
publicized issue to the public’s attention.
Attention in and of itself is fine, though it
couid have been accomplished in a more
suitable fashion, such as demonstrating
“outside” the president’s office, or in front
of the building, perhaps. This brings us to a
Very Important Question: Where’s the line
in active protest or participation between
constructive and destructive activity?
For those who aren’t into the protest
scene, let me enumerate three things pro
testers aim for:
1) To bring a problem to the public or
establishment’s attention.
2) To inform the public/establishment
about the problem.
3) To convince the public/establish
ment to solve the problem.
These aims are probably best achieved
when the protesters basically keep
themselves within the social norms of the
people they are trying to reach. Let’s face it.
While staging a take-over of the College
President John Keyser’s office sounds
adventurous, and perhaps even romantic, it
would be self-defeating.
Who is going to listen seriously to a pack
of militant college kids chanting slogans and
boiling hot dogs in President Keyser’s Mr.
Coffee machine? More militant types?
Perhaps, but the people who count won’t
listen. I can hear them now...“Just a bunch
of stupid kids screaming about something
Feedback
Letters
to the
Year's plans detailed
Fellow Students:
Fall term is moving by ex
tremely fast, but at the same
time it has been very en
joyable. I will be writing let
ters to The Print in the hopes
that it will give you a little
more information about your
Associated Student Govern
ment, information on what
we’ve done and what we are
currently doing.
ASG has sponsored two
dances this term, the
“Welcome Dance” and the
“Halloween Dance.” Both
went off better than expected,
there was a strong turn out
and those who attended had a
good time.
‘Alcohol
Awareness
Week”, which coincided with
“National Alcohol Awareness
Week” was a first for
Clackamas Community Col-
P?ge 2
lege. The week of events
covered a variety of subjects
and still tied in with the theme.
Several students and staff
members stated they had
learned new information
about alcohol and it’s effects.
For many, the information
reinforced previous thoughts.
Special thanks to all who
helped make ‘‘Alcohol
Awareness Week” a success.
At this time several clubs
are being organized: Ski Club,
Bowling Club, Phi Beta
Lambda, Spanish Club and
the International Club.
Students interested in joining
these clubs or forming a new
club are encouraged to do so.
ASG will be glad to answer
questions about clubs.
I want to encourage
students to use our “ASG Sug
gestion Boxes” located around
campus. This is one way you
they they can’t grasp anyway. Turn the
channel, would you, Mildred?”
More than likely our protesters DID have
a handle on the subject, and the effort
generally went to waste. The key words in
productive protest would seem to be
credibility and respectability.
Don’t get me wrong. I am not against ac
tive protest. I’ve marched to city hall more
than once myself. What I don’t advocate is
hasty, violent, or just plain stupid methods
of protest. It’s great to be zealous about cer
tain things, but pelting officers of the law
with rocks or blowing up abortion clinics is
not the answer.
One answer that sounds appealing is
something that our own ASG is doing. The
idea to host a benefit dance/concert to help
the earthquake relief effort in Mexico City is
brilliant and should be applauded. I hope
that it comes off with great success, and that
means that a lot of people have to show up.
Get the hint?
Meanwhile, there’s still strife in South
Africa, hard times for the homeless, and
new resentment in what some call “the six
northern counties” and others call Northern
Ireland. Plenty of things for eager, and
hopefully caring, individuals to protest. But
don’t waste honest concern in potentially
damaging action.
can express your thoughts,
comments or ideas and they
will be looked into. Students
are also welcome to personally
make suggestions at the
Students Activities Office. We
have an “Open Door” policy
to all students who have sug
gestions or concerns.
ASG regular business
meetings are held every Thurs
day in CC 101 from 12-1 p.m.
This is a public meeting where
all major decisions are made.
All students and staff
members are welcome to at
tend.
Tuesday, Nov. 19 the Red
Cross and ASG are sponsoring
a blood drive. Our goal is 80
units of blood. We have signed
up donors in advance, but
walk-in donors are welcome.
This event is worthy of your
time! I plan on giving my pint
and I hope to see you there.
Editor
The Print gladly accepts any letters to the editor. All letters
are subject to editing, and should not be libelous, obscence or
false. Letters must be typed and double spaced. It must be
signed by author, and accompanied by an address and phone
number. Drop them by trailer B.
THE PRINT aims to be a fair and impartial journalistic medium covering
the campus community as thoroughly as possible. Opinions expressed in
THE PRINT do not necessarily reflect those of the College administra
tion, faculty, Associated Student Government or other members of THE
PRINT staff. THE PRINT is a weekly publication distributed each
Wednesday except for finals week. Clackamas Community College,
19600 S. Molalla Ave., Oregon City, Oregon 97045.
Office: Trailer B; telephone 657-8400, ext. 309
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF: Fritz Wenzel
ARTS EDITOR: Thad Kreisher
SPORTS EDITOR: Julie Miller
PHOTO EDITOR: Dan Wheeler
COPY EDITOR: David Holmes
ADVERTISING MANAGER: Kelley Stuart
REPORTERS: Amy Doane, Jeff Schoessler, Darlene Durisch,
Toni Madsen, Loretta Carter,
Erik Conrad, Mark Empey, David Holmes
Kathy Jones
PHOTOGRAPHERS: Juan Callahan, George Waller, Keith Moore
TYPESETTER: Jacque de Waal
ADVISOR: Dana Spielmann
.
Clackamas Community College